Protesters in Sudan continue their call for civilian rule during the first meeting between a panel of protesters and the military council.

Demands from the demonstrators include a four-year transition period to make the necessary arrangements to get rid of the former regime, to implement transitional justice and to prepare for real and decent elections.

“We need a civilian government to set up a foundation for a modern Sudan followed by elections that have integrity and represent the will of the people,” one protester said.

The military council have resisted calls for transition to a civilian government, arguing that any small vacuum could lead to a civil war.

One of the key concerns held by both parties is who will lead the supreme presidential council during the transition period. The military announced that they would like to lead, however, the demonstrators say that the majority of the council should be civilians with some military representation.

Rashid al-Sayed, a spokesperson for the protesters, said that the meeting was a confidence building measure for both sides.

Protesters have been staging a sit in outside the army headquarters in Khartoum since April 6. Bashir was removed from office by the military on April 11, ending his three-decade rule. The military took power into their own hands through a 10-member transitional military council.

The protesters have continuously kept pressure outside the army headquarters and are now calling for the military council to step down and consent to a civilian administration.

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